Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 players who have had biggest impact in 2019-20

#5: Kevin Porter Jr.

The player that’s have clocked in at #5 in terms of the biggest impact for the Cavs in 2019-20 is rookie Kevin Porter Jr. 

Porter has shown a boatload of potential on both ends of the floor this season for Cleveland, and even in just 23.2 minutes per game after only starting in four games at USC in his one collegiate season, has averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.9 steals per outing for the Cavs thus far.

KPJ hasn’t had the most consistent campaign, but as a rookie mostly bench contributor, that’s understandable. Of Cleveland’s young pieces such as him, Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Cedi Osman, Porter may be the most promising.

Porter’s combination of handle polish, finishing package, passing feel, to go with him hitting 40.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point attempts, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data, has been awesome to see.

In plenty of instances throughout this season, Porter has given the Cavaliers a big spark off the bench, and with more playing experience in coming years, his impact game-to-game will likely only be felt more and more. Plus, defensively, though he has a ways to go off-ball/as a rotator to shooters, Porter has shown tons of potential on the perimeter, and on-ball, even often against NBA 3’s, has more than held his own.

Not to mention, overall, Porter’s unique athleticism on both ends and power as a finisher, both in settled offense and in transition, has led to him having a considerable impact often in games, even with him just recently turning 20 years old.

Hopefully Porter, who has missed a 10-game span in January due to a left knee sprain and had missed nearly four games leading into the hiatus due to a concussion, can stay healthy in coming years.

It’s clear, though, that Porter has a sky high ceiling as a two-way perimeter piece for Cleveland.